Rotatable Stand with Adjustable Tightness

ABSTRACT

A rotatable stand with adjustable tightness includes a turntable, a base, at least one adjustable connecting element, and a resilient element. The turntable has a spindle, which passes through and rotates in an opening of the base. The adjustable connecting element is connected to the turntable, such that the resilient element squeezes the base between the turntable and the resilient element so as to provide a proper squeezing strength and to make it convenient for a user to alter the orientation between the rotatable stand and the base,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rotatable stand with adjustabletightness, and more particularly to an electronic device having arotatable stand with adjustable tightness

2. Description of the Prior Art

In order to allow a user to set for a preferred orientation, a lot ofcommunication or home electronic devices, such as computers,televisions, image phones, are designed to have a rotatable base. One ofthe examples is provided in the Taiwan patent application No.450499,entitled “Rotary stand that can stably loads the home electronicequipment” An exploded perspective view thereof is shown in FIG. 1. Theassembled structure of the display panel 10 and the panel base 12 can belodged into the rotatable stand 20 through the mergence of front malemembers 1210, the rear male members 1212, and the hollows 2010 and 2012,so as to be rotatable through the rotatable stand 20.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional magnified view of a portion of therotatable stand 20, composed of an upper base 210 and a lower base 220.A lock pin 212 and an opening 222 are respectively formed on the upperbase 210 and the lower base 220. When the upper base 210 is merged withthe lower base 220, the lock pin 212 goes through the opening 222 withthe lock arms extended such that the upper base 210 and the lower base220 can be joined tightly and the assembled structure of the displaypanel 10 and the panel base 12 can rotate stably on the rotatable stand20.

The degree of tightness (related to the degree of difficulty to rotate)of the conventional rotatable stand 20 is not allowed to be adjusted.Tightness over or under a feasible range usually causes a bad userexperience In other words, the tightness of the rotatable stand of aconventional electronic device is not allowed to be changed aftermanufacturing phase After long-time use, it tends to spin too easily dueto the departure from the factory setting tightness range, so as toimpact the rotation friendiness. In view of foregoing drawback, thepresent invention set forth a rotatable stand with adjustable tightness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a rotatable stand, andmore particularly to a rotatable stand with suitable adjustability ontightness and flexibility for a manufacturer to alter the orientationthereof.

According to the object, the present invention provides a rotatablestand with adjustable tightness, including a turntable, a base, at leastone adjustable connecting element, and a resilient element. Theturntable has a spindle which passes through and rotates in an openingof the base. The adjustable connecting element is connected to theturntable, such that the resilient element squeezes the base between theturntable and the resilient element so as to provide a proper squeezingstrength and to make it convenient for a user to alter the orientationbetween the rotatable stand and the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a display panel with a rotatablestand according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional magnified view of a portion of therotatable stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an IP phone (Internet Protocol phone)in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the major rotatablestructure of the IP phone shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of another embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an IP phone (Internet Protocol phone)in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, including aturntable 40, a base (41,45), a display panel 30, and a telephonehandset 32. The turntable 40 is configured on and rotatable with respectto the base (41,45). The display panel 30 is mounted on and pivotallyconnected to the turntable 40 such that the angle of elevation ordepression of the display panel 30 with respect to the turntable 40 isadjustable and that the display panel 30 and the turntable 40 arecollectively allowed to be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise withrespect to the base (41, 45) (as indicated by the arrow sign in FIG. 3).A user can find out an appropriate view angle to the display panel 30 byrotating the turntable 40. The telephone handset 32 is connected toanother end of the base (41, 45).

In this embodiment, the base (41, 45) is composed of the upper base 41and the lower base 45. The lower base 45, however, may be omitted suchthat only the upper base 41 constitutes the whole base. The telephonebuttons 31 are located on the turntable 40. Although it is illustratedby an IP phone in the embodiment, the present invention is applicable tocommunication or home electronic devices such as computers, televisions,image phones, and any other rotatable appliances.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the major rotatablestructure of the IP phone shown in FIG-3, comprising a turntable 40, anupper base 41, a resilient element 43, at least one adjustableconnecting element 44, and a spacing pad 42.

A spindle 4010 is formed on the rear side of the turntable 40 in theform of a hollow cylinder in this embodiment. At least one screw hole4020 is formed in the spindle 4010 so as to be screwed with theadjustable connecting element 44. The position of the screw hole 4020 isnot limit to the inner side of the spindle 4010.

An opening 4112 is formed through the base 41 and the internal diameterthereof is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the spindle 4010such that the spindle 4010 can pass through the opening 4112 and rotatewithout moving transversely. In this embodiment, a pair of symmetricarc-shaped notches 4114 are formed inside the upper base 41 to limit therotating angle of the turntable 40.

The resilient element 43 is located under the opening 4112 so as toprovide a squeezing strength (or a normal force) to secure the base 41between the turntable 40 and the resilient element 43. In thisembodiment, the resilient element 43 is a resilient pad which includes aplate portion 4320 and a plurality of supporting legs 4310 extended fromthe plate portion 4320. Each of the supporting legs 4310 forms an anglewith the plate portion 4320.

Responsible for both connectivity and adjustability in this embodiment,the adjustable connecting element 44 is, but not limit to, a screw. Thenumber of the at least one adjustable connecting element 44 iscorresponding to the number of through holes 4330 through the plateportion 4320.

The spacing pad 42 is located between the upper base 41 and theresilient element 43.In this embodiment, the spacing pad 42, such as wwasher, has an opening with inner diameter less than the outer diameterof the circle defined by the supporting legs 4310. The area of theopening of the spacing pad 42, however, can accommodate the throughholes 4330.

To assemble or implement this embodiment, one or more adjustableconnecting elements 44 (e.g., screws) are connected into the screw holes4020 in the spindle 4010 through the through holes 4330 on the surfaceof the plate portion 4320 of the resilient element 43. In this regard,the adjustable connecting element 44 makes the supporting legs 4310deformed to produce the squeezing strength. The extent of screwing theadjustable connecting element 44 into the screw hole 4020 and the screwthread length determine the extent of the deformation of the supportinglegs 4310 as well as the squeezing strength.

The squeezing strength provides the friction between the turntable 40and the upper base 41 so as to control the degree of tightness or thedegree of difficulty to rotate the turntable 40 in accordance with thestate of the resilient element 43 and to provide users a friendlyexperience on using the turntable 40. The spacing pad 42 between theupper base 41 and the resilient element 43 makes the squeezing strengthproduced by the supporting legs 4310 uniformly distributed over theupper base 41. The arc-shaped notches 4114 located inside the upper base41 can limit the maximum rotation angle reachable by the turntable 40.With such a rotation angle limitation, the interconnecting lines thereinare protecting from damage due to improper usage.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the present embodiment. Only majorstructure is depicted for illustration purpose. The upper base 41 has acone-like shape. The turntable 40 may rotate with respect to the upperbase 41 clockwise or counter-clockwise (as illustrated by the arrow signin FIG. 5). FIG,5 shows the interrelationship after assembling among theresilient element 43, the spacing pad 42 and the spindle 4010. FIG. 6shows a bottom view of another embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention. The upper base 41 has a circle-like shape. Likewise, thefigure shows the interrelationship after assembling among the resilientelement 43, the spacing pad 42 and the spindle 4010.

It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limitthe invention to the preferred embodiments disclosed, but on thecontrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternateconstructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

1. A rotatable stand with adjustable tightness, comprising: a turntablehaving a spindle; a base having an opening for the spindle to passthrough and rotate therein; at least one adjustable connecting elementconnecting to said turntable; and a resilient element, in combinationwith said at least one adjustable connecting element, for providing asqueezing strength to secure said base between said turntable and saidresilient element.
 2. The rotatable stand as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid spindle is a hollow cylinder.
 3. The rotatable stand as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said base comprises an upper base and a lower base. 4.The rotatable stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilientelement is a resilient pad.
 5. The rotatable stand as claimed in claim4, wherein said resilient pad comprises: a plate portion; and aplurality of supporting legs, extended from said plate portion andforming an angle with said plate portion.
 6. The rotatable stand asclaimed in claim 4, wherein said plate portion comprises at least onethrough hole.
 7. The rotatable stand as claimed in claim 6, wherein saidspindle comprises at least one screw hole.
 8. The rotatable stand asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said adjustable connecting element is ascrew passing through said through hole to screw into said screw hole.9. The rotatable stand as claimed in claim 1, further comprising aspacing pad located between said base and said resilient element to makethe squeezing strength provided by said resilient element uniformlydistributed over said base.
 10. The rotatable stand as claimed in claim3, wherein at least one arc-shaped notch is formed inside said base tolimit a maximum rotation angle reachable by said turntable.
 11. Anelectronic device with a tightness adjustable rotatable stand,comprising: a turntable having a spindle; a display panel mounted on andconnected pivotally to said turntable; a base comprising an opening forthe spindle to pass through and rotate therein such that said displaypanel and said turntable are collectively allowed to be rotatedclockwise or counter-clockwise with respect to said base; at least oneadjustable connecting element connecting to said turntable; and aresilient element for providing a squeezing strength in combination withsaid at least one adjustable connecting element to secure said basebetween said turntable and said resilient element.
 12. The electronicdevice as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a telephone handsetconnecting to said base.
 13. The electronic device as claimed in claim12, further comprising a plurality of telephone buttons located on saidturntable.
 14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 11, whereinsaid base comprises an upper base and a lower base.
 15. The electronicdevice as claimed in claim 11, wherein said resilient element is aresilient pad.
 16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 15, whereinsaid resilient pad comprises: a plate portion; and a plurality ofsupporting legs, extended from said plate portion and forming an anglewith said plate portion.
 17. The electronic device as claimed in claim16, wherein said plate portion comprises at least one through hole. 18.The electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said spindlecomprises at least one screw hole.
 19. The electronic device as claimedin claim 18, wherein said adjustable connecting element is a screwpassing through said through hole to screw into said screw hole.
 20. Theelectronic device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a spacingpad located between said base and said resilient element to make thesqueezing strength provided by said resilient element uniformlydistributed over said base.
 21. The electronic device as claimed inclaim 14, wherein at least one arc-shaped notch is formed inside saidbase to limit a maximum rotation angle reachable by said turntable.